Detachable switch holder pan for vehicle detectors



April 30, 1957 T. B. LUND ETAL DETACHABLEZ SWITCH HOLDER PAN FOR VEHICLEDETECTORS Filed May 24, 1955 INVENTOR. .B Ava/D N 5 1 PRIEIPP UnitedStates Patent DETACHABLE SWITCH HOLDER PAN FOR VEHICLE DETECTORS ThomasB. Lund, San Bruno, and Ernest P. Prielipp, Millbrae, Calif.

Application May 24, 1955, Serial No. 510,688

Claims. (Cl. 200-86) This invention pertains to detachable switch holderpan for vehicle detectors;

Vehicle detectors are used mostly at intersections and include a frameimbedded in the roadbed and a treadle switch in the top of the frame soarranged as to be actuated by a vehicle pressing thereon. The switch inturn actuates a signal control in such a manner as to change the signalin the intersection and permit the passage or crossing by the vehicle.

In the present usual construction a casing or frame is embedded in theroad bed and surrounded integrally by concrete or the material of theroad bed so as to form integral part of the road. A pan in the top ofsaid frame is welded or fixedly united with the frame. In this pan is aswitch covered by a resilient pad, preferably a suitable rubber pad. Thedeterioration of the switch and the pan structure as heretofore usednecessitates the replacement of the entire frame structure. It isnecessary for such repair to break the pavement around the frame,interrupt trafiic for considerable period, while the entire frame andunit is removed and replaced in the pavement.

The primary object of our invention is to provide a detachable top plateor pan on the frame of such vehicle detectors so that when the pad isworn or the pan breaks or the switch gets out of order, then the top panitself can be removed and replaced quickly without dismantling theentire casing or frame or without breaking or dis turbing the pavement.

We are aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangementsand combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in thedetails of the con struction thereof without departing from the scope ofthe present invention as set forth in the following specification, andas defined in the following claims; hence we do not limit our inventionto the exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and partsas described in the said specification, nor do we confine ourselves tothe exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustratedin the accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings for the illustrative embodiment of the invention,wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of frame with the pad and pan broken away inparts.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the frame structure showing the arrangement ofthe pan and its fastening.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the entire device showing the panand the switch and pad in place, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective view partly in section showing themounting of the pan and the frame.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental plan view of a corner of the pad showing accessholes for the bolts.

In carrying out our invention we make use of the usual frame 1, which isa hollow or skeleton frame structure, adapted to be sunk in the roadbed. The longitudinal sides 2 of this frame 1 are generally of Ucross-section 2 with the bottom flange 3 being imbedded in the concrete.The top flange 4 of each channel 2 has an upwardly or outwardly extendedrail 6. The frame 1 is so imbedded in the road bed that the edges of therail 6 are generally at the level of the road bed.

The top flanges 4 are provided with a plurality of spaced threaded boltholes 7. An enlargement or boss 8 extends from the lower face of eachtop flange 4 downwardly and the threaded hole 7 extends through the boss8 so as to provide additional bearing for the bolts.

A pan 9 rests upon the top flanges 4. Vertical sides 11 of the pan 9nestle against the inner faces of the opposite rails 6 so that the panis aligned and the bolt holes 12 are in registry with the bolt holes 7to receive fastening bolts 13, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus the switchsupporting pan 9 is easily dropped in position :and then bolted by vthespaced bolts 13 securely in place.

In the removable pan 9 is provided an insulator or cushion base 14 ofthe usual construction to support a contact switch device 16 whichlatter is covered by an upper compressible pad 17. Shield plates 18extend along the opposite longitudinal edges of the pad 17, held inplace by suitable screws. As and when the rubber padding and the pan areworn, then by removing the shield plates 18 access is gained to thebolts 13 so that the pan can be removed and a new pan unit can bequickly bolted in place. Then by replacing the shields 18 the vehicledetector is again in operation.

The insulating base 14 is of lesser width than the entire width of thepan 9 so as to leave the bolts 13 accessible along the opposite edges ofthe pan 9. Thus a pocket is formed under each shield 18 for access tothe bolts 13 and for quick removal and replacement of the pan 9.

In the alternative the pad 17 covers the entire width of the pan and itis provided with access holes 19 through which the bolts may beunscrewed, as shown in Fig. 5.

This device obviates the necessity of the removal of the entire frame orbox whenever the switch of the vehicle detector or the pan thereundermust be replaced, and also obviates the usual traflic obstructions forlonger periods. The detachable pan support for the vehicle detectorswitches is simple in consrtuction and does not require any adjustmentand it can be quickly bolted in place or removed and replaced; it iseminently adapted for its purposes. The detachability of the pan alsopermits the filling of the middle or inside of the frame with concreteso that no voids are left beneath the pan and the pan is solidlysupported and is not bent or bulged down by the weight of vehiclespassing thereover.

We claim:

1. in a vehicle detector device for roadways, the combination with aframe adapted to be imbedded in road bed, of longitudinal shoulders nearthe top of said frame below the level of such road bed, a pan nested onsaid shoulders, and means to detachably secure said pan to saidshoulders of said frame, said pan being adapted to hold therein avehicle detector switch device at about the top level of said road bed.

2. In a vehicle detector device for roadways, the combination with aframe adapted to be imbedded in road bed, of longitudinal shoulders nearthe top of said frame below the level of such road bed, a pan nested onsaid shoulders, and means to detachably secure said pan to saidshoulders of said frame, said pan being adapted to hold therein avehicle detector switch device at about the top level of said road bed,said securing means including spaced bolts extended through said pan andthreaded into said shoulder.

3. In a vehicle detector device for roadways, the combination with aframe adapted to be imbedded in road bed, of longitudinal shoulders nearthe top of said frame ayrn sm below the level of such road bed, a pannested on said shoulders, and means to detachably secure said pan tosaid shoulders of said frame, said pan being adapted to hold therein avehicle detector switch device at about the top level of said road bed,said securing means including spaced bolts extended through said pan andthreaded into said shoulder, said shoulder having reinforcing membersextended therefrom inwardly for rigidity of said bolts.

4. In a vehicle detector device for roadways, the combination with aframe adapted to be imbedded in road bed, of longitudinal shoulders nearthe top of said frame below the level of such road bed, a pan nested onsaid shoulders, and means to detachably secure said pan to saidshoulders of said frame, said pan being adapted to hold therein avehicle detector switch device at about the top level of said read bed,said securing means including spaced bolts extended through said pan andthreaded into said shoulder, said switch device being of lesser widththan the width of said pan, so as to leave pockets along the oppositeedges of said pan for access to said bolts,

.4 and a shield strip covering said pocket on each side of said pan.

5. In a vehicle detector device for roadways, the combination with aframe adapted to be imbedded in road bed, of longitudinal shoulders nearthe top of said frame below the level of such road bed, a pan nested onsaid shoulders, and means to detachably secure said pan to saidshoulders of said frame, said pan being adapted to hold therein avehicle detector switch device at about the top level of said road bed,each shoulder having an outwardly extended rail, said pan havingoutwardly extended sides nested against said rail for locating said panand registering bolt holes in said pan and said shoulder near saidvertical ides and said rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlT ED STATES PATENTS Geeret a1. Mar. 13, 1934 Cooper July 11, 1939

